Speaking to reporters Wednesday on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, Mohsen Paknejad said the quotas on personal fuel cards — 60 liters at 1,500 tomans per liter and 100 liters at 3,000 tomans per liter — will stay in place.

He said what is changing is the use of emergency fuel cards at gas stations, where the price will increase to 5,000 tomans per liter.

Price Gap Between Station Cards,Personal Fuel Cards

Paknejad noted that more than 42% to 43% of fuelings at stations have been done using station cards. He said many people no longer considered it important to carry their personal fuel cards because the 3,000-toman price for the 100-liter quota was the same on both card types. “From now on, that will change,” he said.

He added that a price difference will now apply: Fuel purchased without a personal card will be charged at the 5,000-toman station-card rate. “This is a general rule,” he said, stressing that the quotas themselves remain untouched.

According to Paknejad, part of the increased revenue goes directly to the government. Government vehicles, he said, will no longer receive the 60-liter, 1,500-toman, or 100-liter, 3,000-toman quotas and must use the 5,000-toman gasoline.

No Quotas for New, Imported or Free-Trade-Zone Vehicles

The minister said newly registered vehicles also will not receive the 60- and 100-liter quotas. He clarified that “newly registered” refers to brand-new vehicles leaving the factory and being registered for the first time.

He dismissed claims that a vehicle owner would lose the quota if ownership or license plates change, saying the restriction applies only to new cars.

He added that vehicles in free-trade and special economic zones, as well as imported cars, also will not receive the quotas. He said the new guidelines create a system that monitors public response and allows authorities to adjust policies as needed.

Fuel Card Plan Marks Beginning of Process Changes

The minister said the government directive establishes a working group composed of the Finance Ministry, the Planning and Budget Organization, the Intelligence Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Oil Ministry and the National Energy Efficiency and Strategic Management Organization. The group will make decisions based on evolving conditions, and further adjustments may be required.

Paknejad said the plan is not expected to cause a major drop in consumption nor substantially reduce gasoline imports, which have been a concern for the government’s budget. Instead, he described it as “a starting point” for changing the fuel distribution process.

He reiterated that studies conducted by the country’s economic agencies show the adjustment will not have a meaningful effect on inflation, echoing remarks by government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani.

No Set Date for Implementing the Third Gasoline Price Tier

Asked whether air pollution was linked to gasoline imports from Russia, Paknejad said no. He said samples of imported gasoline are tested in accredited laboratories overseen by the national standards organization and meet appropriate quality levels.

He added that no fixed date has been set for implementing the third gasoline price tier.

Paknejad confirmed reports that about half a million unauthorized fuel cards have been discovered.